variants
or off-colored
as in suggestive
hinting at or intended to call to mind matters regarded as indecent
the movie was rated PG-13 for some swearing and off-color jokes
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of off-color
Musk previously drew criticism for making an off-color joke about Sweeney's body in December.
—
Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Jan. 2026
To wear a device is to pull everyone around you into your data stream, where an off-color joke or a bad moment will be recorded—and eventually used to train future AI systems.
—Deni Ellis Béchard, Scientific American, 23 Jan. 2026
Yellowing can happen with some topcoats when they’re cured, giving nails an unwanted, slightly off-color tint.
—Morgan Fargo, Vogue, 10 Sep. 2025
Overwatering can also result in stunted growth and off-color (yellow) foliage in annuals.
—Tim Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 30 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for off-color
Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Jan. 2026
To wear a device is to pull everyone around you into your data stream, where an off-color joke or a bad moment will be recorded—and eventually used to train future AI systems.
—Deni Ellis Béchard, Scientific American, 23 Jan. 2026
Yellowing can happen with some topcoats when they’re cured, giving nails an unwanted, slightly off-color tint.
—Morgan Fargo, Vogue, 10 Sep. 2025
Overwatering can also result in stunted growth and off-color (yellow) foliage in annuals.
—Tim Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 30 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for off-color
Recent Examples of Synonyms for off-color
Adjective
-
On Chinese social media, some people said that K-pop — with its suggestive dance moves — is not appropriate for children.—
Ken Moritsugu,
Fortune,
10 Apr. 2026
-
On Chinese social media, some people said that K-pop — with its suggestive dance moves — is not appropriate for children.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
9 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
No one’s workday was ever overturned by a spicy Cook tweet.—
Jim Edwards,
Fortune,
21 Apr. 2026
-
The postgame scene eloquently explained why this series has become greasy, if not spicy.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
21 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
From high enough in the sky, the clouds look like thick cotton being pulled from a deep-blue couch.—
Hanif Abdurraqib,
New Yorker,
17 Apr. 2026
-
It’s stitched in a grid pattern in a matching blue shade, adding texture and visual interest to the otherwise plain white bedding.—
Maggie Horton,
PEOPLE,
17 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Off-color.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/off-color. Accessed 23 Apr. 2026.
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